Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Kinzua Bridge State Park -Winter Day Walk. Sat. Jan 15, 2022 at 10 am. Join in the fun with a short walk around the main parking area to take in the beautiful scenery. Dress for the weather and meet in front of the Kinzua Bridge Visitors Center. Then enjoy visiting the Kinzua Bridge State Park Visitors Center to learn the history of the Kinzua Viaduct-Kinzua Sky Walk, 296 Viaduct Road, Mt. Jewett, PA. #visitanf #anfvisitorsbureau #pastateparks #kinzua  

WARREN – The Allegheny National Forest and the National Wild Turkey Federation are hosting an informational workshop about the emerald ash borer. The workshop will be held on June 18, 2015 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Allegheny National Forest Supervisor's Office, 4 Farm Colony Dr., Warren, Pennsylvania. Emerald ash borer is an exotic, wood boring beetle native to Asia that attacks all species of North American ash trees. It has killed an estimated 50 million ash trees in the United States and Canada since 2002. “This workshop is designed to help area landowners learn about this invasive pest that is devastating all North American ash species, and has established infestations across much of the ANF region,” said Andrea Hille, Forest Silviculturist. Several EAB experts will present information on a broad range of topics regarding EAB, including: • Emerald ash borer biology, history introduction and spread (Dr. Houping Liu, Entomologist, PA DCNR) • Pennsylvania Ash Manageme...

A contractor who lied to the government about plugging abandoned oil wells in Elk County has been sentenced to six months in prison. 45-year-old Ronald Wright of Pleasantville must also pay more than $236,000 restitution to his former employee, S&T Services and Supply to cover costs of re-plugging 95 wells. ARG Resources had contracted with S&T to plug the abandoned wells so they would be in compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act before doing work in the Allegheny National Forest. During his sentencing in federal court in Erie he apologized for filed false certificates that environmental regulators used to approve an injection well in Elk County. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Allegheny National Forest’s Bradford Ranger District has received a proposal to install, operate and maintain a natural gas pipeline on national forest system land. Minard Run Oil Company has requested a 30-year special use permit for a 19,369-foot pipeline to be buried along Forest Roads 173 and 176 and under a portion of Linn Brook in McKean County. The total size of the project is less than five acres. Additional information about this project can be found at: http://go.usa.gov/6mcA. The Bradford Ranger District is seeking comments about this project. Comments may be submitted in several different ways: Mail: Macario J. Herrera, District Ranger; USDA Forest Service; Bradford Ranger District; 29 Forest Service Drive, Bradford, PA 16701 Fax: 814.362.2761 E-mail: comments-eastern-allegheny-bradford@fs.fed.us. Please reference the Minard Run Oil Co. Special Use Stickney Pipeline on the subject line and include your name and physical mailing address with your correspondence. ...

Two men have been sentenced for growing marijuana on the Allegheny National Forest. 59-year-old William Kamholz of Frewsburg was sentenced in federal court to time served, and was fined $2,000. 62-year-old James Leach of Randolph was sentenced to one day in jail and nine months of home detention. He was fined $3,000. The McKean County Drug Task Force arrested Kamholtz in September of 2012 after stopping his vehicle and finding duffel bags containing marijuana he had harvested from the forest. In October of 2012, Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s deputies and the US Forest Service searched Leach’s home and found a drying room with about 23 pounds of marijuana in it. According to information presented to the court, Kamholtz and Leach conspired to manufacture and possessed with intent to distribute marijuana plants. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Sherry Tune has been selected as the new forest supervisor of the Allegheny National Forest, according to Kathleen Atkinson, U.S. Forest Service Eastern Regional Forester. Atkinson said, “I am delighted that Sherry has accepted the position of Allegheny Forest Supervisor. Her excellent leadership and collaboration skills will help strengthen the Allegheny's ties with the public.” Tune is currently the forest supervisor on the Mendocino National Forest Supervisor in northern California, a position she’s held since February 2012. “I am looking forward to joining the Allegheny National Forest and engaging in great dialogue and connecting with the employees, communities and partners who enjoy the many benefits from this remarkable forest,” Tune said. I am excited for this new challenge and experiencing a different environment, ecosystem and climate.” Prior to arriving on the Mendocino, Tune served as district ranger on the Los Padres National Forest in southern California, follo...

One of the men who broke into a gatehouse at the Kiasutha Campground over 4th of July weekend has pleaded guilty to that crime, and another, in McKean County Court. 18-year-old Taylor Dyne of Kane and his co-defendant broke a window to get into the campground gatehouse, where they stole several items, which were later recovered at a fire pit the men used. In a separate incident in February, Dyne went to a Kane home where he was not wanted, pushed a man into the garage, punched him and kicked him. Dyne is scheduled for sentencing on October 30. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

One of the men accused of breaking into a campground on the Allegany National Forest during Fourth of July weekend has waived his preliminary hearing. 18-year-old Taylor Dyne of Kane and his co-defendant allegedly broke a window to get into a building at the Kiasutha Campground on July 3. Police found some of the stolen items at a fire pit the pair used that night. Dyne had been free on unsecured bail, but that was revoked and he’s in McKean County Jail because he didn’t show up for a scheduled court appearance last month. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A man has admitted to lying to ARG Resources and the federal government about plugging abandoned wells on the Allegheny National Forest in Elk County. 54-year-old Ronald Wright of Pleasantville said he plugged the wells while he was working for S & T Services and Supply, but not to the depth he claimed in reports filed with the government. ARG Resources wanted to use a combination of injection and production wells designed to increase the amount of oil from wells on the forest. Permits for injection wells require that all abandoned wells within ¼ mile of the new injection wells be plugged. ARG Resources entered into a contract with S &T to plug the wells so ARG would be in compliance with the permitting process under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Fluids associated with oil and natural gas drilling, including brine, are deposited in Class II injection wells. Wright faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced on December 22. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... si...

The second Kane man accused of breaking into a campground on the Allegheny National Forest earlier this month has been arraigned. 22-year-old Robert Knapp allegedly broke a window to get into a building at the Kiasutha Campground on July 3. Police found some of the stolen items at a fire pit he and his co-defendant 18-year-old Taylor Dyne used that night. Knapp is free on $5,000 unsecured bail, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 7. Dyne is free on $20,000 unsecured bail, and his preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Warren, Pa. – The Allegheny National Forest will hold an open house at an active archaeological dig site at the “King Farm” near West Hickory, PA, on Tuesday, July 1, 2014. Dr. Susan Prezzano of Clarion University is conducting the dig in conjunction with the forest. The public is invited to visit the dig to witness how an archeological excavation is conducted and learn about the people who lived and used the King Farm area throughout history. The site will be open to visitors from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The King Farm site is located in Forest County near the Allegheny River. To reach the site, from West Hickory, take Dawson Run Road (paved) south for about 2 miles. After the Allegheny National Forest motor vehicle sign (large white sign with black text), watch for the first gate on the left. There is a small dirt parking area near the gate. The excavation is about 200 yards behind the gate. For additional information, contact Marienville District Archeologist ...

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) wants to protect the Allegheny National Forest and ensure the National Forest Service adequately manages our cherished woodlands before continuing to acquire additional property. Sen. Toomey joined Sen. John Thune and a group of seven senators in appealing to the Chairman and top Republican on the committee that designates funding for the National Forest Service that “Congress should ensure that the Forest Service prioritize limited resources to adequately manage the lands for which it is currently responsible, rather continue to acquire additional property.” “Our Allegheny National Forest is the gem of northwest Pennsylvania and a treasure all Americans can enjoy,” said Sen. Toomey. “The ANF, like other national forests, must be cared for and proactively managed to improve forest health before the government seeks to acquire more land with taxpayer dollars.” Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson, whose district includes most of the ...

WARREN – The Allegheny National Forest (ANF) announced the opening of its Rocky Gap ATV Trail effective at 9 a.m. Saturday, but another trail will remain closed for the time being. The regularly scheduled opening of its ATV trail system was postponed on Memorial Day weekend due to heavy rains and flooding sustained over parts of the forest the week before their scheduled opening. Conditions have improved and affected areas have been inspected to allow the opening of the additional trails. In addition to the Rocky Gap trail opening this weekend, the Timberline Trail and Willow Creek Trail are also open. Both loops of the Marienville Trail (Bike and ATV) remain closed while necessary repairs are made. The public is encouraged to check regularly for updated information, either on the Allegheny National Forest website (http://www.fs.usda.gov/allegheny) or by calling any of its three offices (Supervisor’s Office 814-723-5150, Marienville Ranger District 814-927-6628, Bradford Range...

Wednesday’s flooding has delayed trail openings on the Allegheny National Forest. The ATV trails and the Spring Creek Horse Trail were scheduled to open tomorrow, but the flooding led the Forest Service to delay the opening so they can assess the damage. Parts of the forest got 3 to 4 inches of rain over the past 36 hours. Trail conditions will be assessed daily and an announcement will be made as soon as conditions allow for their opening. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Warren, Pa. – Recreation facilities on the Allegheny National Forest will be opened and fully operational Friday, May 23rd, for the summer recreation season. Fees: Fees for campgrounds range from $12 to $24. Each campground has sites that are first-come, first-served, and many have sites that can be reserved. Group camping areas require reservations, except at Hearts Content, and are $50 per night. Six rustic cabins are available at Willow Bay Campground for a fee of $55-65 per night. Please check our website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/allegheny/recreation/camping or call 814-362-4613 for fee information. Double Sites: In response to many requests for adjacent family campsites, some double sites that can accommodate up to 14 people per night have been identified at Buckaloons and Twin Lakes Campgrounds for a rate of $32-36. The double sites are listed with the National Recreation Reservation Service. Reservations: All reservations are handled through th...

The hemlock woolly adelgid has made its way to Allegany State Park. The NYS Parks Office says the invasive insect that kills hemlock trees was found by trained citizen scientist volunteers at two locations while performing area searches within the park. The find was confirmed by the State Department of Agriculture and Markets. The State Parks Office says it has taken steps to eliminate the hemlock woolly adelgid and will step up efforts to find additional infestations. The insect was on the Allegheny National Forest last year in the Tionesta Research Natural Area, Cook Forest and Clear Creek state parks this past spring, and near the Clarion and Allegheny rivers as well as Webbs Ferry. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Warren – The Allegheny National Forest announced today the regularly scheduled closure of all motorized trails on April 1, 2014. Snowmobile trails will remain closed until the start of the winter season in December 2014, while ATV and motorbike trails are scheduled to reopen on Friday, May 23 and will remain open through the last Sunday in September, weather dependent. Daily or Annual Passes for the ATV trails can be purchased at any Allegheny National Forest office, or by visiting any of the local participating vendors. A full list of vendors is available by contacting any office or by visiting the following link on our website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/allegheny/recreation. We recommend contacting the Supervisor’s Office at (814) 723 5150 or Marienville Ranger District at (814) 927 6628 for updated trail conditions. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) urged the U.S. Forest Service to conduct a study to determine whether a successful strategy in place in the southern U.S. to combat an invasive species, the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA), could be used in the northern U.S. as well. If effective this strategy could help the Allegheny National Forest (ANF) which is battling the HWA. The HWA is rapidly destroying hemlock trees which are a major part of the ANF’s ecosystem. The ANF is a key source of Pennsylvania’s timber industry which accounted for $7.2 million in sales in 2012 that have been as high as $25.6 million in the last decade. The new strategy, in place in West Virginia, has deployed a beetle to biologically control the HWA. “The Allegheny National Forest is one of Pennsylvania’s great natural treasures and an important element of Northwestern Pennsylvania’s economy,” Senator Casey said in a news release sent to WESB. “Conducting this study has the potential to determi...

A graduate student from Arizona who vandalized three gas and oil wells in the Allegheny National Forest in August has been accepted into the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program. 21-year-old Jeffrey Branham of Prescott had been working to clear a trail with others from the Student Conservation Association when he broke off pressure gauges at wells owned by Howard Drilling, just west of Route 321 in Hamilton Township. About one barrel of oil – or 42 gallons – spewed into the ground and onto nearby trees. If Branham successfully completes the ARD program the charge of risking a catastrophe will be cleared from his record. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947